Window operating and door locking mechanism



Jan. 18, 1938. 1'. M06; AIKEN 2,105,830

WI NDOW OPERATING ANDDOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed inch 5. 19s2- .4 Sheets-She 1 Jan 18, 1938. '1'. McGf AIKEN WIRDO' OPERATING AND DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM v 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1932 Jan. 18, 1938. I

'r. McG. AIKEN Y 2,105,830 WINDOW OPERATING AND DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM.

Filed Marchfi, 1952 .4 sheets-skeet 3 15 .10.

INVENTORS I Jan. 18, 1938. 1-. M06. AIKEN 2,105,830.

.WINDOYI OEERATING AND DOOR LOCKIfiG MECHANISM I Filed March 5, 1932' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F 1gp]? Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES WINDOW OPERATING AND DOOR LOCKING 'MECHANISM Thomas McG. Aiken, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application March 5,

6 Claims.

The invention relates to an apparatus for auto matically actuating the windows of a vehicle, such as a motor car, to their closed positions and for automatically operating the locking devices associated with the doors thereof.

Present day construction of motor cars necessitates the manual actuation of the windows and the door locking devices thereof in order to secure the car against unauthorized entrance in the absence of the owner or operator. It is obvious that such manual operation of the windows and the door locking mechanisms is inconvenient and awkward, especially in the case of the larger models such as sedans in which there are four doors to be locked and six windows to be closed.

, It is an object of the invention, therefore, to

provide means for performing these operations automatically whereby the inconvenience and diillculty encountered under the present practice and construction are entirely avoided.

In accordance with the invention, I provide an automatic window closing mechanism for each of the windows of a motor car, including a spring actuated lazy-tongs. The springs for actuating the lazy-tongs are designed and located .so as to close the window when the latter is released and so as to provide a substantially constant closing force regardless of the position of the window. I utilize the usual manual crank for lowering the windows. The invention embodies also means for locking the window in different positions. Means actuated by the initial turning of the window lowering crank releases the locking means. Each window closing mechanism includes a spring actuated pawl having a retracting mag-' net for automatically closing the window-on energization of the magnet. An air cushion or dashpot forms part of the apparatus to absorb the shock of the closing of the window under the spring force. Toward theend of the closing movement the dashpot is released and the full spring pressure applied ,to the window so that a firm closure is efiected.

A'ih'odifled form of the invention includes a rack bar mounted'in the door and a pinion carried by the window for cooperation with the bar. The pinion is mounted on a shaft which is provided with spiral springs. connected that they are coiled when the window is lowered. A locking mechanism similar to that mentioned is included and when the locking mechanism is released, the springs turn the shaft and the rotation of the pinion in cooperation witlr'the rack forces the window up. In this embodiment of the invention, I include a releas- The springs are so 1932, Serial No. 596,942

able clutch in the driving mechanism for lowering the window, and a friction brake or governor for maintaining constant the speed of the window as it moves automatically to the closed position.

The door locking mechanism comprises a 1ocking plate actuated by electromagnets, for cooperation with the locking mechanism which is now generally used in motor car doors. By a suitable control system, the operation of the locks on all the doors may be caused to take place successively. The successive operationmay be initiated by the initial movement of the lock barrel in the right-hand front door when turned by the key provided for manual locking thereof. The operation of the window closing mechanisms may also be simultaneously started and means are provided for preventing the completion of the turning of the key until the windows have been closed and the doors locked. Unlocking of the manually locked door releases the locking mechanisms in the other doors. The opening of the doors from either the inside or the outside of the car by the usual means is not interfered with by the automatic mechanism mentioned.

For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying. drawings illustrating a present preferred embodiment, although it is to be understood that many changes in the system disclosed may be'made without departing from the scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of a motor car door having the invention applied thereto,

' the usual inner cover being removed from the door frame to expose the working parts;

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view to enlarged scale along the line II1I of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view substantially along the plane of line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the plane of line IVIV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a detail;

Figure 6 is a side elevation to enlarged scale of the door locking mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a partial side elevation of the automatic locking mechanism;

Figure 8 is a partial side elevation of a form of'lazy-tongs representing a slight modification of, that of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a partial side elevation showing a modified form of window locking and control mechanism;

Figure 10 is a circuit diagram showing the connections between the various electromagnets and control devices;

Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a partial modification of the circuit of Figure 10;

I Figure 12 is a side elevation of the door having a modified form of operating mechanism incor-- Y XVI-XVI of Figure 12.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular, to Figure 1 for the present, the usual construction of motor car includes door frame members In and II forming part of the car body. A door l2 having frame members l3, l4, l5, l6, l1, and a plate glass window l8 slidable therein, is hinged to the member I0.

The actuating mechanism for closingthe win dow I8 includes a spring actuated lazy-tongs l3 pivotedto the door frame member l3 and carrying a stirrup 20 for engaging the lower edge of the window. The construction of the lazy-tongs l9 will be obvious from the illustration in Figure 1. fMain springs 2| therefor extend between auxiliary links 22 pivoted to each other and to the lazy-tong links proper. An auxiliary spring. 23 is also employed as well as a starting spring 24 adapted to give the lazy-tongs an initial push when it is collapsed in such position thatthe springs 2| and 23 exert only a portion of their normal force.

A bell crank 25 is rotatable on a shaft 26 jour-. naled in bearing plates 21 secured to the door frame members l4 and I5. The bell crank25 has an arm 23 and an arm 29. The arm 28 is connected to one of the central pivots of the lazytongs by a link 30.- The arm 29carries a springpressed pawl 3| and cooperating with a ratchet wheel 32 rotatable on the shaft 26. An electromagnet 33 on the arm 23 serves, when energized, to retract the pawl 31.

A gear 34 is also rotatable on the shaft 26 but is rigidly secured to the ratchet wheel 32 by rivets 35 so as to move only in unison with the ratchet wheel. I

Rotation of the gear 34 and the ratchet wheel 32 is effected by means of a crank 36 similar to the ordinary window operating crank. The crank is secured to a sleeve 31 rotatable within a cylindrical casing 38 secured to the inner bearing plate 21. The sleeve 31 has cam surfaces 39. A plunger 40 integral with the bearing disk 4| is slidable axially in the housing 38. Axial movement is imparted to the plunger 40 by means of a thimble 42 hearing againstthe disk 4|. A

' transverse pin 43 carried by the thimble has protruding ends adapted to be engaged by the cam surfaces 39 of the sleeve 31. A spring 44 normally maintainsthe plunger 40 and the disk 4| retracted.

A pinion shaft 45 traverses the disk 4| and the thimble 42 and has a slotted end for embracing the pin 43. A pinion 46 on the shaft 45 meshes with the gear 34.

A spring locking finger 41 is adapted to engage behind a projection 48 on the bell crank 25 when the window I8 is raised, to prevent the unauthorized opening of the window. This locking 50- home on its piston 5|.

spring is automatically moved out of line with the projection 48 when the window is lowered by turning the crank 36. The initial movement of the crank in a counter-clockwise direction turns the sleeve 31 and forces the pin 43, thimble 42, the disk 4| and the plunger 40 to the left, as shown in Figure 2. .The plunger 40 engages the finger 41 and forces it out of the plane of the projection 48. Further rotation of the crank 36 lowers the. window by driving the bell crank through the pinion 46 and gear 34 in a clockwise direction. Since the magnet 33 is normally deenergized, the pawl 3| engages the ratchet wheel .32 and the bell crank is thereby driven positively by the gear 34 The rotation of the bell crank, of course, lowers the window l3, collapses the lazy-tongs l9, and extends the springs associated therewith. The friction in the mechanism for lowering the window will usually be suflicient to hold it in anydesired position but if not, a mechanical brake may be applied to the bell crank, for example, a pad bearing onv the crank at a convenient distance from the shaft 26. An air cushion 43 is also operated by movement of the bell crank 25. The air cushion comprises a cylinder 50 pivoted to the arm 29 of the bell crank 25 and a piston 5| connected by a rod 52 to a fixed support, such as a brake 53, to which the rod 52 is pivoted. The cylinder 50 has a port 54 in its wall which is permanently open, and also a port 55 which is normally closed by a I valve 56 when the window I6 is open. The valve cated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

If the window is fully opened by the procedure described above, the lazy-tongs l3 will be completely' collapsed as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l, and the spring 24 will be flattened out. When it isdesired to close the window l8 automatically, it is only necessary to energize the magnet 33 by means which will be described hereinafter. the pawl 3| and releases the positive connection between the ratchet wheel and gear and the bell crank 25. This permits the springs 2| 23 and 24 to extend the lazy-tongs and close the window l6, simultaneously forcing the cylinder As before stated, the function of the spring 24 is merely to start the elevation of the lazy-tongs since, in the col- The energization of the magnet retracts lapsed position, the main and auxiliary springs 2| and 23 are not very effective. As the cylinder 56 is thrust home on the piston 5|, the accumulation of air in the cylinder prevents too violent closure of the window. When the window is nearly closed, however, the pin 58 on the bracket 59 engages the spring 51 carrying the valve 56 to withdraw the latter from its port 55. This releases the air accumulated in the cylinder and permits the lazy-tongs springs to exert a strong lifting effort on the window l3 to close it tightly.

The door locking mechanism is illustrated in Figures 1, 6 and '1. The usual mechanism for maintaining the door closed comprises a latchinner end being secured thereto and the ".outer end bears against a turned-up end of a lever 64 pivoted to the plate 6| at 65. The lower end of the lever 64 is adapted to be engaged by a cam 66 actuated by the outside door handle, the inner endof the shank of whichis shown at 61. The cam 66 also engages a projection 68 on the bar 68 so that when the shank 61 is turned by the outside handle, the cam 61 forces the lever 64 clockwise and retracts the bar 60. A slide 69 is adapted to be actuated by a linkage I extending to the inner door-opening handle II;

The locking mechanism comprises a slide plate 12 having a pin I3 adapted to traverse a slot 16 in the plate 6|. The slide I2 may be secured to the plate 6| by screws extending through slots I4. One edge of the slide is notched at I to receive spring-pressed detent I6 (Figure 1) for yieldingly maintaining the slide in raised or lowered position. A yoke I1 is formed at the lower end of the slide I2. Electromagnets I8 and I9 are mounted on a supporting plate 80 for successively operating a plunger 8| having a crosshead 82 extending through the yoke 11. Clearance is provided between the yoke and the crosshead so that engagement therebetween does not occur until the plunger 8| has been accelerated. This provides for a hammer blow on the slide I2 to positively actuate it. The magnet I8 raises the plunger 8| and the slide I2. When the slide is raised, the pin I3 prevents rotation of the lever 64 so that the latch bar cannot be withdrawn by turning the outside handle. The door can be opened, however, by the operation of the inside handle II. When the slide is lowered, the pin I3 thereon is retracted and free rotation of the lever 64 by the cam 66 is permitted so that the bar 60 can be withdrawn by turning the outside handle. The detent I6 holds the slide 12 in either of its positions until energization of the appropriate actuating magnet.

Figure 8'illustrates a modified form of lazytongs 83. Instead of the links 22 shown in Figure 1, the tongs 83 have angularly disposed ends 84 for receiving the main springs. Auxiliary links 85 exert a camming action on the ends of members 86 which are appropriately rounded. Springs 81 force the links 85 against the cam surfaces and thus provide the initial effort for starting the lazy-tongs upwardly. The arrangement of springs and tongs shown in Figure 8 provides for a substantially uniform upward force throughout the travel of the tongs.

Figure 9 illustrates a modified form of window lowering and locking mechanism. Instead of the ratchet wheel 32 of Figure 1, Figure 9 shows a square toothed ratchet wheel 83 associated with a gear 89 similar to the gear 34. A locking spring finger 98 has a pin 6| adapted to project between the teeth of the wheel 88 and is moved out of locking relation by a plunger 92 identical with that shown in Figure 2. The finger 9|, to-v gether with the pawl 93 similar to that shown at 3|, cooperate to lock the window in any adjusted position.

With the locking mechanism of Figure 1. it is possible if the windows have been lowered slightly, to lower them the rest of the way against the spring pressure. bypressing downwardly thereon. This is an advantage in some cases, for example, in case of an accident where the door could not be opened and a hasty exit is imperative. The mechanism of Figure 9, however, prevents operation ofthe window at any point in its travel except through the manual crank.

Having described the apparatus which I emindividual control switch III'I of the push button type. A master switch I08, which may be mounted on the dash-board, causes all the window closing magnets to be connected in parallel to a source of current such as a starting and lighting battery I08. The windows may thus be operated individually or simultaneously to the closed position. A contact III), adapted to be engaged by a moving contact II I actuated by the movement of the key locking mechanism II2, completes a circuit in parallel with that of the switch I88, so that if the windows have not been closed either by the individual push buttons III'I or the master button I08, they will be closed automatically when the key is put in the lock and turned. I also utilize the latter movement to control the door locking devices illustrated at II3, II, H5 and H6. Each of these devices is similar to that shown on the door in Figure 1, except that auxiliary contact mechanisms are shown schematically in Figure but are not illustrated in Figure 1 since they are of standard design. The arrangement of the circuits for the locking devices is such that turning the key in the look I I2 completes a circuit through a contact III for energizing the upper, raising, or locking magnet of the mechanism II3. When the contact III engages the contact III, it also engages a pivoted stop II8 which prevents further turning of the key for the 0 time being.

The circuit for the raising magnet of the looking device H3 includes a contact II9 which is closed when the locking device is in the unlocked position. Upon the completion of the circuit for the locking magnet of the mechanism II3, the plunger 8| strikes a hammer blow on the slide 12 to lock the bar against retraction. The movement of the plunger also opens the contact II8 to deenergize the locking magnet and closes a contact I which prepares a circuit for the unlocking magnet. The locking of the device II; also closes a contact I2I which completes a circuit for the locking magnet of the device Ill. The latter operates in the same manner as the device H3 and the same sequence is completed for the devices H5 and H6.

When the last locking device, H6, is actuated. a contact I22 is closed to energize the magnet I23 for retracting the stop |I8 from the path of the contact III on the locking mechanism II2. It will be apparent that automatic operation of the locks on all four doors is thus effected and the removal of the key from the mechanical lock usually provided on the right-hand front door is prevented until the. locking mechanisms of all the doors have properly operated.

When it is desired to open the car, the key is inserted in the lock II2 and turned in the unlocking direction until the contact III engages a contact I24. In its reverse movement, the con tact III will engage contacts ill and H0. Engagement with contact I II has no effect since the circuit extending from said contact is open at contact II9. Engagement of the contact III! by l with the contact I24 energizes all the unlocking magnets of the units II3 through H5, in parallel.

Sequential operation of the unlocking magnets may be obtained if desired, by means similar to that shown for the locking. operation. The locking mechanisms are therefore actuated to the unlocked position and the circuits thereof are opened at contacts I; The whole system is then ready for a repetition of the above cycle. A switch I is connected in parallel with the contact I24 and a similar switch I26 may be provided in parallel with the contact I I1 for lockingand unlocking the doors from within the car should such operation be desirable.

Figure 11 illustrates a. slight modification of the circuit of Figure 10 for the window closing magnets. In Figure 11, these magnets are designated at I21, I28, I29, I30, I3I and I32. The circuit of Figure 11 is arranged so that the window closing magnets are energized in sequence similar to the manner in which the locking devices operate in Figure 10. A push button switch I33 or, alternatively, a contact I34 actuated by the lock indicated at I35, completes a circuit for the first window closing magnet I21. A contact I36 closed by the energization of the magnet extends.

the circuit to the next magnet I28, and so on. If desired, interlocking contacts I31 closed by the completion of the closing movement of each window (see Figures 1 and 9 may be connected in the circuit for the next magnet to prevent continuation of the sequence ifanything should prevent the closing of the first or any succeeding window. These contacts, however, are not essential and may be omitted, or they may be used alone instead of in combination with the contacts I35. Upon the operation of the last window closing magnet I32, a contact I38 closed thereby initiates the sequential operation of the locking mechanisms, as described in Figure 10.

The electrical locking means on the right front door may be omitted and the usual mechanical lock relied on exclusively. In such case, the electromagnetic lock II5 may be used to control the magnet I23.

A somewhat simpler form of window closing mechanism is shown in Figures 12 through 16. According to the modified form of the invention, a motor car door I40 is provided with a vertical rack bar I. A window I42 is slidable in,the door. A yoke I43 secured to the window carries a pinion I 44 meshing with the rack MI. The yoke is dovetailed to the rack as shown in Figure 16. The pinion I44 is mounted on a shaft I45 journaled in brackets I46 carried on the window.

Right and left hand springs I41 and I40 are connected at their inner ends to the shaft I45. The

outer ends of the springs are secured to the sleeves I40 which are adjustable on the brackets I45 and locked thereto when adjusted.

Plates I50 mounted within the door provide bearings for a bell crank I5I having a gear segment I52. The bell crank I5I turns on a shaft I53. A shaft I54 carries a pinion I55 meshing with the gear segment I52 and a gear I55. A shaft I51 has a pinion' I50 meshing with the gear I56. A spring-pressed pawl I59 having a retracting with cam surfaces I59 on the sleeve I so that when the crank I56 is turned in a clockwise direction, the effect of the cam surfaces and the pin is to force the sleeve I61 in contact with the bushing I52 so that the clutch teeth thereof engage and form a positive drive for the shaft I51 and the pinion I50.

The bushing I62 is provided with arms I10. Brake shoes I1I are pivoted to the arms I10 and are adapted to engage the interior of the drum I,5I when thrown outwardly by centrifugal force on rotation of the bushing. The shoes are normally forced against the drum by the springs IN.

The bushing also has fingers I12 for retracting the brake shoes from engagement with the drum when the bushing I62 is rotated in a clockwise direction by the crank I55.

The method of operation is similar to that of the modification previously described. The window may be lowered by operating the crank I56. The clutch sleeve I51 engages the toothed end of the bushing I52 to drive the pinion I 50 and through the gear train, the bell crank I5I to lower the window. When the window has been lowered to the desired point, the pawl I55 locks it at that position and release of the handle I61 disengages the latter from the bushing I62. While the window is being lowered, the fingers I12 render the brake shoes ineffective to resist turning of the bushing I52. As the window is lowered, of course, the pinion I44 turns the shaft I 45 and winds up the springs I41 and I40. When it is desired to raise the window, the magnet I50 may be energized, for example, by one of the circuits shown in Figures 10 and 11. When the pawl is withdrawn, the springs I41 and I40 turn the pinion I44 so as to force the window to its closed position.

A spring locking lever I13 has a function similar to that of the lever 41 of Figure 1 and, in addition, serves to shift the clutch sleeve I51 away from the bushing I52 when the crank I66 is released.

As the window is being raised by the springs, the rotation of the bushing I62 causes the shoes Hi to be thrown outwardly into engagement with the interior of the drum I5I by centrifugal force. The brake shoes act as a governor to prevent the movement of the window from exceeding a limiting speed determined by the design of the brake. The window thus moves upwardly at a uniform rate which may be adjusted by changing the initial spring tension or by, an adjustment of the brake.

Figure 15 shows a modified form of locking mechanism for holding the window in adjusted lowered position. This mechanism is similar to that shown in Figure 12 except that instead of having the pawl I59 engage the gear I56, a ratchetwheel I14 is mounted on the bushing I52 and a pawl I15 is pivoted within the door for engaging the ratchet wheel. The pawl I15 has an extension I15 which may be operated by a push button I11 mounted in the door and having a cam face for engagement therewith.

Itwill be apparent from the foregoing-descr tion that the invention provides means for fk-aitating the operation of the windows and door locks in motor cars. The apparatus is characterized by positive operation, comparatively low cost, and extreme flexibility. No extensive changes in present construction or designs are necessitated and the invention may be incorporated in present day models of motor cars without unduly increasing the cost thereof. The inven- 1| tion does not aflect the normal operation oi present types of window operating and door locking mechanisms. The windo s may be closed by hand as at present instead of automatically:

should the automatic system fail for any reason. Manually operated mechanical door locks may also be supplied in addition to the automatic locks. The added convenience afforded motor car owners by my invention needs no discussion.

Although I have illustrated and described herein but a single present preferred embodiment of the invention, together with modifications of parts thereof, the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein disclosed, since numerous changes may be made in the embodiment described without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a window operating mechanism,.a bell crank for raising and lowering the window, spring I actuated lazy-tongs compressed by lowering of the window for automatically raising it, a gear and pinion for operating said bell crank, said gear having a releasable connection with thecrank, and means for freeing the bell crank from the gear whereby the iazy;tongs'raises the window.

2. In a window operating mechanism, means for lowering the window,-and means energized thereby for closing the window, means yieldingly opposing the closing force exerted on the window by said second mentioned means, and means for rendering said opposing means ineffective as the window approaches its fully closed position.

3. In Ia window operating mechanism, a bell crank for raising and lowering the window, spring actuated means made effective by lowering of the window for closing it, a ratchet and pawl for driving said bell crank in, one direction only, manual means for driving the ratchet, and a magnet -for retracting said pawl to release the bell crank from the ratchet whereby said spring actuated means is released to close the window.

4. A control system for the doors and windows of a motor car including closing means for each of said-windows and locking means for each of said doors, means for successively actuating the window closingmeans, and means responsive to the closing of the windows for successively locking each of the doors.

5.- A control system for the doors and windows of a motor car having a key lock in one door, means responsive to the initialturning of a key in said lock for closing said windows and lookingsaid doors, means for preventing complete rotation of said key until all said locking means have been actuated, and means responsive to actuation of all said locking means tor-rendering inefiective the means for preventing complete i rotation of said key. 4

6. In a window closing mechanism, energystoring means actuated by opening of the window for subsequently closing it, a governor eflective continuously to maintain the closing speed o! the window substantially constant, and means for opening the window, said means being eflective positively to render said governor ineflective.

THOMAS MOG. AIKEN 

